SACRAMENTO ― Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order to address global supply chain disruptions, Caltrans is temporarily increasing truck weight limits for international commerce on the State Highway System.
 
Executive Order N-19-21 directs Caltrans to consider a temporary increase in the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight beyond the current 80,000-pound limit in order to facilitate a greater volume of goods moving from ports to distribution centers.
 
The increased truck weight permits will apply to the entire State Highway System, including Interstate routes, between ports and distribution centers in California. Cities and counties would need to issue their own permits for travel on local roads. Permits will be valid until June 30, 2022.
 
“Caltrans stands ready to support the ongoing federal, state and local efforts to keep goods moving quickly through California,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “Record demand for imported goods combined with capacity issues across the entire supply chain has slowed distribution at ports on the California coast. To help deal with these backlogs, Caltrans is currently working with the freight industry to identify priority freight routes for trucks that carry overweight loads and to assist truckers and other stakeholders with permit applications.”
 
Caltrans held stakeholder workshops on November 10th and 12th to gather input from the freight industry regarding the location of distribution centers and transloading facilities, potential maximum loads to be transported, solutions to alleviating congestion at the ports, and how to assist truckers and other stakeholders with permit applications.
 
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To Promote Awareness of this Growing Menace, PG&E Reminds the Pubic that November 14-20 is Utility Scam Awareness Week
 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Every day across the country, electric and natural gas customers, along with telephone, water and other essential services customers, are being targeted by scammers impersonating utilities, typically online, in-person and by telephone. In fact, during September and October, the number of attempted scams reported to PG&E increased by 65%. To help protect customers against this threat, PG&E is joining its fellow electric, natural gas, water utilities and Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) to help customers recognize potential scams during Utility Scam Awareness Week from November 14-20, 2021.
 
UUAS, a consortium of more than 145 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities and their respective trade associations, continues to create awareness of common scams and new scam tactics being used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its work and with the help of customer reporting, UUAS has succeeded in taking nearly 9,500 toll-free numbers used by scammers against utility customers out of operation.
 
“Scammers are constantly changing their tactics and tricks, so awareness and reporting are more important than ever. All of us have to continue to evolve our safeguards and approaches to keeping our customers safe,” said Chris Zenner, vice president, PG&E residential services and digital channels. “If an email, visit to your home or phone call doesn’t feel right, don’t fall for it. Delete it, shut the door or hang up. And, as a reminder, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email.”
 
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have increased calls, texts, emails, and in-person tactics and are constantly contacting utility customers asking for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. As a reminder, PG&E will never send a single notification to a customer within one hour of a service interruption, and we will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or third-party digital payment mobile applications.
 
“Scammers have not shown compassion for small businesses and private citizens enduring the trying circumstances of the last two years,” said Jared Lawrence, UUAS founder and Duke Energy Vice President of Metering Services and Customer Service Transformation. “In fact, they have intensified their criminal activity with high pressure tactics and increasing use of technology. For that reason, utilities continue to unite to combat scammers by spreading awareness and are working with telecom partners to remove access to phone lines and encouraging policymakers to adopt stronger public protections.”
 
Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also aim their scams at small business owners
 
during busy customer service hours. However, with the right information, customers can learn to detect and report these predatory scams.
 
Signs of a potential scam
 

• Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill.
• Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to purchase a prepaid card then call them back supposedly to make a bill payment.
• Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the scammer instant access to the card’s funds.
• Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate.

 
How customers can protect themselves
 
Customers should never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill, including accepting payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person.
 
If a scammer threatens immediate disconnection or shutoff of service without prior notification, customers should hang up the phone, delete the email, or shut the door. Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail and included with their regular monthly bill.
 
Signing up for an online account at pge.com is another safeguard. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, they can sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing and helpful alerts.
 
Scammers Impersonating Trusted Phone Numbers: Scammers are now able to create authentic-looking 800 numbers which appear on your phone display. The numbers don’t lead back to PG&E if called back, however, so if you have doubts, hang up and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. If customers ever feel that they are in physical danger, they should call 911.
 
Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or who feel threatened during
contact with one of these scammers, should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission’s website is also a good source of information about how to protect personal information.
 
UUAS is dedicated to combating impostor utility scams by providing a forum for utilities and trade associations to share data and best practices, in addition to working together to implement initiatives to inform and protect customers.
 
For more information about scams, visit www.pge.com and www.utilitiesunited.org.
 
               About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy company in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron (Escondido) issued the following statement on the Legislative Analyst's Office report projecting a $31 billion state budget surplus: 


"Last year, California’s population shrank by nearly 200,000 people thanks to the state’s sky-high cost of living. Meanwhile, the government is sitting on a $31 billion surplus. There’s something wrong when the state is flush with extra cash - $750 for every man, woman and child – while ordinary people have to choose between putting food on the table and filling their gas tank. If California won’t give this money back, let’s at least spend it in a way that brings down the cost of living and improves people’s quality of life."

​

School boards across California are passing resolutions opposing Newsom’s student vaccine mandate. Yesterday, I supported a similar resolution passed by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.
We remain the only state with this radical mandate, yet Newsom refuses to lift it. Worse, he says he’ll continue the State of Emergency as long as COVID is around. In other words, he plans to permanently abolish constitutional government.
As Dan Walters writes, Newsom intends to "govern by decree" indefinitely, "further eroding the American concept of checks and balances.” That's why the Legislature must act. When we reconvene, I’m insisting a vote be held on ACR 46, the simplest legislation I've ever authored:
"The Legislature, in accordance with Section 8629 of the Government Code, declares that the state of emergency proclaimed by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 4, 2020, is at an end and that the emergency powers granted to the Governor as a result of that proclamation are terminated."
From the beginning, Newsom saw COVID as an “opportunity for a new progressive era.” He’s used that “opportunity” to inflict on us the nation’s worst and most regressive outcomes. But we’re fighting back like never before – for our kids, for our Constitution, for our state’s future.  
Support citizen-backed representation
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Kevin Kiley
California Legislator

Paid for by Kevin Kiley for Assembly 2022

California is forecasted to receive $31 billion in surplus according to today’s Fiscal Outlook by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst. Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County) issued the following statement regarding the Legislative Analyst’s Fiscal Outlook for 2022-2023:
 
“Today’s revenue outlook for the state clearly illustrates the divide in our economy and workforce. Taxes being collected from hardworking Californians and businesses account for the $31 billion surplus, while Californians are being crushed by an affordability crisis worsened by inflation, over 1.4 million Californians are jobless, and small businesses are still struggling.
 
“It’s time to prioritize how to make California work for all of its people.
 
“State leaders must prioritize the surplus revenue to invest in the critical issues that are impacting all Californians – needed water storage, a reliable supply chain and permanent tax relief – to build a healthy economy and keep Californians and businesses in our state.
 
“It is important to underscore that California’s healthy fiscal outlook does not mean our economy is doing well. As we enter another budget year, we need to make needed long-term investments that Californians are demanding.”
 

 
SACRAMENTO ― Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order to address global supply chain disruptions, Caltrans is temporarily increasing truck weight limits for international commerce on the State Highway System.
 
Executive Order N-19-21 directs Caltrans to consider a temporary increase in the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight beyond the current 80,000-pound limit in order to facilitate a greater volume of goods moving from ports to distribution centers.
 
The increased truck weight permits will apply to the entire State Highway System, including Interstate routes, between ports and distribution centers in California. Cities and counties would need to issue their own permits for travel on local roads. Permits will be valid until June 30, 2022.
 
“Caltrans stands ready to support the ongoing federal, state and local efforts to keep goods moving quickly through California,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “Record demand for imported goods combined with capacity issues across the entire supply chain has slowed distribution at ports on the California coast. To help deal with these backlogs, Caltrans is currently working with the freight industry to identify priority freight routes for trucks that carry overweight loads and to assist truckers and other stakeholders with permit applications.”
 
Caltrans held stakeholder workshops on November 10th and 12th to gather input from the freight industry regarding the location of distribution centers and transloading facilities, potential maximum loads to be transported, solutions to alleviating congestion at the ports, and how to assist truckers and other stakeholders with permit applications.
 

QUINCY, Calif. – November 17, 2021 - QUINCY, CA – The Forest Service announced that the Beckwourth Complex and Dixie Fire Area, Road, Trail, and Recreation Site Closure will be lifted for federally managed lands in the Plumas National Forest (PNF) effective November 19, 2021.

The closure was originally planned through November 30, but due to the hard work of our suppression repair teams, the closure can be terminated early. Forest visitors should exercise caution when entering a burned area. Some road repair operations are ongoing, and may cause travel delays. Forest conditions are dynamic, and hazards such as falling trees or rolling rocks can limit access into or out of forest areas. Some trails were impacted by fire, and may be more difficult to traverse. If you plan to enter a burned area, please be prepared for downed trees, rocks, and rough surfaces. Carry food, water, and maps, and let others know of your travel plans.
For more information about closure areas, road conditions, and recreation areas, please contact the Beckwourth Ranger District in Blairsden at (530) 836-2575, the Mt. Hough Ranger District in Quincy at (530) 283-0555, or the Feather River Ranger District in Oroville at (530) 534-6500. Some recreation sites are closed for the season. Current conditions are posted at Plumas National Forest - Recreation (usda.gov). Forest closure information may be found at Plumas National Forest - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov).
For information about the Plumas National Forest visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas and www.Facebook.com/usfsplumas.
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USDA is an equal opportunity pr 

​

by National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation,
the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens

______________________________________________________ 
Ask Rusty – About Computing COLA and Congressional Pay Increases

Dear Rusty: What determines the amount of the cost of living increase for Social Security as compared to the cost of living increase for Congress? Last year Social Security got less than 2 percent, while Congress got a 10 percent cost of living increase. Why the double standard? What items are used to determine the cost of living increase? Signed: Inquiring Mind

Dear Inquiring Mind: I’m happy to explain how the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security is computed and, although it’s outside the realm of Social Security I usually deal with, how members of Congress get raises in their pay. 

The normal COLA formula affecting Social Security uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known simply as the “CPI-W.” The CPI-W measures changes to consumer prices in several categories such as food, housing, transportation, etc., as computed monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The formula to compute COLA each year compares the average CPI-W for the third quarter of the current year to the average CPI-W for the third quarter of the previous year. If there is a sufficient difference, that difference (expressed as a percentage) becomes the COLA increase percentage for next year. If there is no difference (or only a tiny difference) no COLA increase is awarded because no inflation has occurred from one year to the next, but there have only been 3 years since 1975 that no COLA has been given. The 2021 COLA increase was 1.3% and the 2022 COLA increase will be 5.9%, the latter reflecting high inflation we’ve experienced this year. 

Increases to Congressional salaries are different. Although there is a statute allowing for automatic salary increases for members of Congress, that law can be overruled by legislation which suspends those automatic increases. Through such superseding legislation, Congressional pay has been frozen since 2009. The last salary increase received by members of Congress was 2.8% in January 2009, when each general member’s annual salary became $174,000. Congressional salaries have not increased since that time so, with dollar amounts adjusted for inflation, pay for members of Congress effectively declined by 17% between 2009 and 2020. But don’t feel sorry for them. They have plenty of other perks to sustain them, and Representatives who already collect Social Security get the standard COLA increase to their SS benefit (as we all do). 

While Congressional salaries have been frozen for years, there has been much recent debate about whether the CPI-W is an accurate measure of inflation for elderly Americans who rely on Social Security benefits. A commonly heard argument is that instead of the CPI-W, a separate Consumer Price Index known as the “CPI-E” (Consumer Price Index for the Elderly) would more accurately measure inflation for seniors and, thus, should be used to compute COLA for Social Security beneficiaries. Studies have shown that the CPI-E would provide a slightly improved COLA for SS beneficiaries, but there are other formulae being considered too. It remains to be seen whether future legislation will change how COLA is computed. 

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

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_______________________________________
About AMAC 
The 2.4 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. And the AMAC Foundation (www.AmacFoundation.org) is the Association’s non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting and educating America’s Seniors. Together, we act and speak on the Association members’ behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at www.amac.us/join-amac.
AMAC | Washington DC | 917-846-8485 | Email | Website

Over the weekend, the large slide location on State Route 70 in the Feather River Canyon near the Butte/Plumas County Line became active again. Due to this new activity, contractor operations have been suspended for safety pending further site assessment and recommendations. Continued debris removal from the area is planned upcoming when safe to resume these operations.

With this recent change in slide activity, the anticipated opening of State Route 70 to one-lane of traffic with 24/7 traffic control is currently being reassessed and reevaluated. More information will be provided in an upcoming update. 

Caltrans and contractor thank the traveling public and locals for their continued patience during this slide closure. 24/7 roadway conditions are available via QuickMap or by calling 1-800-427-7623. Please contact the Caltrans District 2 Public Information Office at 530-225-3426 or by email with questions.

Look at these beautiful people! Treasure Mountain families came together and had a wonderful day cutting Christmas trees. Gus Petterson and Kaylee Gregory are showing off an example of the fine trees that can be found at Christmas Tree Sales that start the day after Thanksgiving. We encourage people to come and get their Christmas trees early as we sold out in two weeks last year! The average price for a Christmas tree in Truckee is well over $9.00 per foot. Treasure Mountain 4H continues to serve their community by offering Christmas Trees at the low price of $5.00 per foot up to 10 feet and $6.00  a foot for trees over 10 feet. - Photos and story by Margaret Delbarba​

State school boards across the nation have ended their memberships with the National School Boards Association after the organization likened concerned parents to “domestic terrorists.” But there’s been no similar response to the execrable California School Boards Association. They sent their own letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a missive remarkably similar to the national association’s letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. 
 In what many view as an effort to shut down California’s growing parent movement, CSBA executive director Vernon M. Billy declared, “What we are seeing goes far beyond the normal, legal expression of First Amendment rights…. We are increasingly witnessing active attempts to undermine the democratic process through intimidation, threats, and violence.” 
 Then appearing to play the social-justice card, Billy railed against local cops. “In numerous cases, law enforcement officers — in brazen defiance of the law and their professional oath — have explicitly stated they will not enforce safety mandates or restrain those whose actions willfully disrupt a meeting and prevent it from proceeding. 
 “It bears noting that law enforcement has not always exhibited this level of reticence when dealing with protestors who exercise their constitutional right to peaceably assemble and protest.”
 In what’s being called “The Year of the Parent,” concerned families have been speaking out at school board meetings from California to Virginia, expressing their frustration with out-of-touch school board members who have dismissed parent concerns about school lockdowns, mask and vaccine mandates, and the introduction of divisive race-based curricula into K-12 schools. 


Instead of listening to parents, NSBA’s late-September letter to the U.S. Department of Justice led, within days, to a memo from Garland directing the FBI to get involved in local law enforcement. Despite a high-profile Congressional hearing that revealed Garland worked closely with the NSBA to stage the elaborate political theater, and despite demands by Republicans that he rescind the FBI directive, Garland has refused. 


The backlash from parents and concerned citizens nationwide was immediate. They recognized the one-two punch of NSBA’s letter and Garland’s directive for what they were: a coordinated strategy of political intimidation launched to quell the growing parent movement sweeping the nation. 


On October 22, the NSBA responded to the uproar by withdrawing its letter and apologizing to its state school board members, but the damage was done. 


According to The Center Square, 26 states have distanced themselves from NSBA’s letter, including 11 that “have taken action by withdrawing their membership, participation, or dues from NSBA: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.”


The California School Boards Association refused to answer The Center Square’s questions about the NSBA letter and it’s not hard to understand why. The California affiliate sent a copycat letter to Gov. Newsom the same week as the NSBA letter, asking him “to collaborate with California Attorney General Rob Bonta to convince, command, or otherwise urge local law enforcement” to “help maintain order at local school board meetings.” 


The CSBA letter has flown mostly under the radar. But make no mistake, the organization
is following the same political playbook as the national association, designed to intimidate and silence parents, and derail the grassroots parent movement taking place from San Diego to San Francisco. 


But the pushback from California parents isn’t going away anytime soon. Perhaps no other incident captures the tension between parents and school boards more clearly than a recent meeting of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education that made national headlines. When parent Lauren Roupoli told board members, "We are vocal because we are our children’s biggest advocates,” the audience reacted with applause. Board president Marlys Davidson responded in a decidedly different way: she was picked up on a hot mic saying "F--- you,” and it aired on the school board’s livestream. Outraged parents are calling for Davidson to be recalled.


In fact, 2021 could get double billing as “The Year of the Recall,” and California is leading the charge. Twenty-five of the record 84 school board recall efforts that Ballotpedia is tracking this year are in California, making the Golden State the national leader by far. Many of the recalls, according to EdSource, are “targeting two to four board members.”


The recall effort in San Francisco has captured national attention. There, three school board members face a February recall. As a San Francisco Examiner editorial explains, school board members “dithered as parent frustration boiled over due to SFUSD’s lack of a plan to get students back into school…. Instead…they engaged in cringeworthy performative activism infamously wasting time…on a shambolic and ill-informed effort to strip the names of leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Dianne Feinstein from our (empty) local schools.” 


San Francisco parents have had enough: 3,500 students left the district over the last two years. On Tuesday, even San Francisco Mayor London Breed came out in favor of the recalls and said she supports “the parents’ call for change.” 


If notoriously liberal San Francisco is a bellwether, the California School Boards Association should take note. It’s clear the parent revolution has only just begun.


Quote of the Week
“Shortly after SFUSD announced that they were eliminating algebra in the eighth grade and detracking everyone, I was done…. Even my most stereotypically woke and progressive friends have had enough and are sending their kids to private schools.” – A San Francisco parent commenting in The New York Times


More from CPC

• Yes, Virginia, There Are Lessons We Have Learned, Larry Sand breaks down Virginia’s gubernatorial upset 
  

CPC and allies in the news

• National Review’s Radio Free California Podcast: “French Laundry Part 2: The Getty Afterparty!” CPC President Will Swaim and board member David Bahnsen discuss Governor Gavin Newsom’s change of plans, cancelling his trip to Glasgow’s climate meet-up and then appearing at the lavish San Francisco wedding of oil-heiress Ivy Getty. 
  
• National Review’s Radio Free California Podcast: “Punching the Golden Goose in the Mouth.” David and Will marvel at San Francisco’s ability to find new and interesting ways to kill people through broader illegal drug use, and note that Xavier Becerra is taking those same lethal drug policies on the Joe Biden Medicine Show tour.
  
• Five reasons why making LA businesses into vaccine cops won’t work: CPC policy analyst Brandon Ristoff’s op-ed in Los Angeles Daily News
  

Union news

• Chaos within SEIU Local 1000 falls directly on California union president’s shoulders
  
• Biden administration blocks billions in California transit money, citing pension law
  
• Judge denies L.A. police union’s request to block vaccine mandate
  

Classroom headlines

• Crenshaw High School football team sidelined for playoffs after lacking enough vaccinated players
  
• California teacher's quiz question trashes conservatives
  
• Ventura County teacher removed from school after rant against vaccines and Biden
  
• Recall effort for San Dieguito trustee Allman unsuccessful
  
• Should California de-track math?
  
• CA school district will not comply with Newsom’s vaccine mandate, prepared to accept costs
  
• Democrats’ bill plans biggest expansion of public education in a century
  
• Arizona school board head allegedly kept ‘dossier’ of parent info
  

Greenville, California

Assemblywoman Dahle and Plumas Bank assist South Carolina woman with “Greenvilles for Greenville” fundraiser, benefitting Dixie Fire stricken town in Plumas County
GREENVILLE – Cynthia Burns, a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, rallied Greenvilles nationwide to support the Northern California town that burned in the Dixie Fire of the same name. Upon hearing the news about Greenville, California, Burns’ neighbor, also a resident of Greenville, SC, suggested their community do something to help via the popular site NextDoor. Burns took it upon herself to help.
During her research, she discovered that 34 Greenvilles are recognized by the United States Census Bureau. Burns reached out to each one to provide the opportunity for their residents to contribute to the GoFundMe she created. As donations began to come in, Burns reached out to Assemblywoman Megan Dahle’s office for help getting the funds to the community of Greenville, California. Having previously worked with the staff at Plumas Bank, Dahle facilitated a connection between them and Burns to incorporate the funds toward the Dixie Fire Fund – a fund administered by The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada. The Dixie Fire Fund has raised approximately $170,000 so far, including a $50,000 donation by Plumas Bank.
“My team and I recently drove through Greenville to visit the families and children of that community. Seeing them acclimating to their lives in new schools, in new communities was bittersweet. I look forward to seeing Greenville rebuilt and I am thankful for people like Cynthia who have contributed to that future,” said Dahle.
“I think people were just really touched by the story, that a town could just be totally wiped out in no time,” said Burns.
Due to the anonymity of many donors Burns is uncertain how many of the 34 Greenvilles participated, however, those she spoke to about the fundraiser were glad to have a way to help out.
“It’s remarkable that a community more than two thousand miles away felt a sense of connection to the people of Greenville and empathized with the Dixie Fire tragedy,” said Andrew Ryback, President and CEO of Plumas Bank. “I’m inspired by people like Cynthia who are supporting Dixie Fire recovery efforts. Every contribution and act of kindness makes a difference.” Plumas Bank’s branch in Greenville, California was significantly damaged and was one of only five buildings that remained standing after the town was destroyed by the Dixie Fire.
The Dixie Fire began in mid-July, burning nearly 964,000 acres across five counties in Northeastern California. One of California’s largest wildfires in history, the fire destroyed more than 1,300 structures and damaged nearly 100 more. As of Oct. 24, fire officials reported full containment of the Dixie Fire.
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Butte and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties. For more information about Assemblywoman Dahle, visit ad01.asmrc.org/.
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About Plumas Bank
Plumas Bank provides financial services to small and mid-sized businesses throughout the region. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. For more information about Plumas Bank, visit
plumasbank.com.
About The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Founded in 1980, Plumas Bank is a locally owned, full-service community bank headquartered in Quincy, California. The
bank operates fourteen branches across Northeastern California and Northern Nevada with loan production offices in
California, Nevada and southern Oregon.
The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that has distributed more than $145
million in grants and scholarships from 247 charitable funds. Founded in 1998, the foundation is a community leader,
permanent charitable resource, and a philanthropic advisor in charitable giving. For more information, visit
nevadafund.org. 

​

As we head into the holiday season, Americans are beginning to see the real-time impacts of President Biden’s attempt to navigate America out of a recession while simultaneously proposing trillions of dollars worth of tax-and-spend legislation. The economy is already flush with cash due to all the stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, and higher wages that have granted American consumers greater spending power. We already saw the effects of this last year when Amazon’s profits soared 220% over the course of the COVID pandemic, and the volume of imports delivered to our shores increased by more than 20%. Yet, the administration is also pushing a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a reconciliation bill that adds another $2 trillion in spending. This additional $3 trillion of spending will fuel more demand, both directly — such as in the form of increased purchases of parts for electric-charging stations — and indirectly, as subsidies push more consumer spending elsewhere.
However, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has insisted the backlog of goods and increased prices are positive signs. By his logic, the supply chain crisis we are facing is due to the simple fact that “demand is up, because income is up, because the President has successfully guided this economy out of the teeth of a terrifying recession.” Unfortunately, this lack of concern is not unique in the President’s Cabinet. Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, condensed this very real crisis down to a “tragedy of the treadmill that’s delayed.” These comments demonstrate a complete disregard for not only the impact this unprecedented backlog of goods at our ports, but also for our farmers that already had to contend with a historic drought this year.

Earlier this year, I was hearing from constituents in the agriculture industry that had no way to export their crops due to foreign shipping companies opting to return to Asia without American goods. Chinese shipping companies decided to violate trade laws by solely exporting to the U.S., and to date, the Biden administration has yet to call them out for the havoc they are wrecking on California farmers, and the supply chain generally. To date, three in four containers from the U.S. are going back empty, according to Redwood Logistics CEO Mark Yeager, and in October, during peak harvest season, 80% of scheduled shipments were canceled.
Californian exports accounted for more than 10% of all U.S. exports in 2020, and when it comes to agriculture, California accounted for 16% of all U.S. exports in 2019. The standstill is severely damaging America’s farmers. Strawberries, blueberries, walnuts, almonds, and many other California products are perishing as they wait to be loaded. American truck drivers are being punished for these delays, even though ports are operating slowly and foreign ships are leaving before their cargo is loaded. The situation is out of our truckers’ control, but they are forced to pay the bill.

The Biden Administration and Governor Gavin Newsom finally agreed last month to move ports to 24/7 operations, but this will take nearly two years to work – by which time most U.S. producers and truck drivers will be out of business, and foreign countries will have found new markets to replace America.

In the meantime, Americans are on track to having the most expensive holiday season in history. According to the American Farm Bureau, the cost of turkey will jump by nearly a third – from $1.21 per pound to $1.60 per pound. The rapid onset of inflation is already affecting the cost of bacon (which has gone up 19.30%), pork (12.70%), meat and eggs (12.60%), and chicken (8.1%). Even though prices were at an all-time low last year, this Thanksgiving is expected to set a series of new record highs. Pent up demand from COVID shutdowns, combined with overspending by President Biden and Congressional Democrats, and a lack of attention to our supply chains has boosted inflation into dangerous levels. I hope everyone banked that $0.16 the Biden Administration bragged about saving on July 4th festivities, because everything from fuel to food will cost a lot more this holiday season, if you can find it.
Sincerely,

Doug LaMalfa
Member of Congress

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks is honoring the service of U.S. veterans, as well as active and reserve personnel, by offering free admission to 133 state parks on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.
“State Parks thanks all military veterans of all branches – past and present – for their sacrifices, courage and service. We invite them and their families to visit their state parks for free as we celebrate and recognize their bravery, hard work and dedication to this country,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.
Assembly Bill 150 (Olsen), signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2013, authorized California State Parks to offer veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the National Guard of any state a reduced fee or free day use at participating state parks.
Participating parks include the California State Railroad Museum and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park along with state vehicular recreation areas such as Carnegie, Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch, and Hungry Valley. The park units that honor historic military sites or veterans from the Mexican-American War to the Cold War include:

• Angel Island State Park
• Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
• Fort Ross State Historic Park
• Fort Tejon State Historic Park
• Mount Diablo State Park

A full list of the participating park units can be found online at parks.ca.gov/VeteransDay2021.  In order to enter the park units for free, a valid military ID or a California driver’s license identifying the individual as a veteran must be shown to park staff.
Visitors are advised to recreate responsibly, plan ahead and visit the webpage or social media account of their outdoor destination to find out what is open and what visitor guidelines are in effect. And remember to safely share the road. Be prepared for equestrians, pedestrians, joggers, wildlife, etc. on the roadways. For safety tips, please visit parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.
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WASHINGTON, DC, Nov 5 -- Modern medicine is helping America’s elders live longer, healthier lives. But a segment of that population, those requiring special care at home and in specialized facilities built for the task, has been particularly hard hit by the COVID pandemic. They face a massive shortage of caregivers as home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, hospices and residential care communities find it harder and harder to attract workers, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
 
The Mercer healthcare industry consultancy, in its 2021 healthcare labor market report, says that more than 9.7 million workers are employed at those agencies and that over the next five years the industry will need 10.7 million. However, the expectation is that 6.5 million aides will permanently leave their jobs in that same period of time and the industry will attract only 1.9 million replacements. 
 
AMAC’s Weber says, if that isn’t scary enough, the research firm, Morning Consult, conducted a poll among healthcare workers and found that:
 

• 18% of health care workers have quit their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, while another 12% have been laid off.

 

• Among health care workers who have kept their jobs during the pandemic, 31% have considered leaving.

 

• 79% of health care professionals said the national worker shortage has affected them and their place of work.

 
According to Morning Consult, 50% of those who participated in the survey said they quit their jobs to find employment that paid better and 50% said they left because they found jobs with better opportunities and 44% said they wanted to pursue opportunities for career growth.
 
Gayle Kvenvold is president and CEO of LeadingAge, the largest association of aging services organizations in Minnesota. She says that “The average wage for a direct care worker right now in Minnesota is between $16 and $17 an hour. And we know that we're going to need to be able to do better than that to compete in our rapidly evolving workforce.” But she points out that the “ability to increase wages is tied directly to state funding allocations. As wage pressure mounts, providers cannot simply raise their rates to increase the wages to attract new workers.”
 
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living [AHCA/NCAL] represents more than 14,000 nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other long term care facilities. A survey they conducted shows that things have gotten so bad for the long term care industry that only 25% of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are confident they will still be in business next year. Mark Parkinson, AHCA/NCAL president and CEO, cites a survey showing that a “majority of facilities are losing revenue due to fewer post-acute patients coming from the hospital and fewer residents seeking long term care. Providers are also still incurring COVID costs, despite the availability of vaccines, as infection prevention measures continue. The top three costs facilities incurred due to COVID-19, regardless of whether or not they’ve had cases or not, are additional pay for staff, hiring additional staff, and personal protective equipment.”

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The 2.4 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. 
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Motion accompanying petition asks 6th Circuit for emergency stay
of overreaching Biden administration order


NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Dhillon Law Group, Inc. and Alliance Defending Freedom, on behalf of The Daily Wire today filed the first in the nation challenge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate. 

Click here to view and download the petition.

Click here to view the 490 page OSHA order.
The mandate requires all private employers of 100 or more employees to force unvaccinated employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, be subject to weekly testing, or lose their job. Attorneys for The Daily Wire will also file an emergency motion to stay the mandate.
“The Daily Wire will not comply with President Biden’s tyrannical vaccine mandate, and we are suing the Biden Administration to put a stop to their gross overreach,” said Daily Wire Co-Founder and Co-CEO Jeremy Boreing. “President Biden, the federal government, social media, and the establishment media have conspired to rob Americans of their freedoms in the name of public health. They have broken faith with the American people through conflicting messaging, false information, and by suppressing data and perspectives with which they disagree.”
The lawsuit alleges that the Biden Administration lacks constitutional and statutory authority to issue the employer mandate, and that the mandate failed to meet the requirements for issuing a rule taking effect immediately without the normal process of considering public comments. 
“The federal government lacks the legal authority to compel private employers to play the role of vaccine or COVID police, lack the police power to force private employees to undergo medical treatment, and may not ignore constitutional limits on its ability to regulate every aspect of our lives,” said Dhillon Law Group’s partner Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Biden administration’s attempt to impose this unprecedented and unlawful federal medical mandate on the U.S. workforce without considering the public’s views is arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by the evidence, and would produce a willfully ignorant rule,” 
The lawsuit takes no position on any COVID-19 vaccine or whether any person should make the personal decision whether to receive it. The Daily Wire has employees who have received a COVID-19 vaccine and those who have not.

“The Biden administration’s decision to mandate vaccines through an OSHA rule is unlawful and compels businesses like The Daily Wire to intrude on their employees’ personal health decisions,” said ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Bangert. “The government has no authority to unilaterally declare that employees are workplace hazards or to compel employers to become vaccine commissars, and we are asking the 6th Circuit to put a stop to it immediately.”

As the motion for stay filed with the 6th Circuit will argue, the federal government has no power under the Constitution to force half the U.S. private sector workforce—80 million workers or more—to be vaccinated against their will or endure repeated medical testing as a condition of simply earning a living. Nor is OSHA empowered to compel employers to enforce this government diktat or face punishing fines. Yet the OSHA mandate would do just that. Even if it had such power, Congress did not delegate it to OSHA, which is overtly trying to ram this unconstitutional, extra-statutory, and unprecedented mandate into immediate effect through emergency rulemaking to avoid public comment in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Forced to invade employees’ medical choices or histories and their religious beliefs in connection with a condition of employment, The Daily Wire risks being trapped between its obligations under the mandate and the prohibitions against discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the burdens of laws regulating the possession of private information. The mandate is unconstitutional because the Constitution does not grant Congress—much less OSHA—the general police powers needed to mandate vaccination and virus testing as a condition of private employment, or to deputize employers to enforce that mandate on its behalf.
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LaMalfa: Biden Vaccine Mandate will Cost People Their Jobs
 
(Washington, DC) Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the Biden Administration announced their long-telegraphed vaccine mandate plan.  The OSHA rule will require companies with more than 100 employees to have a vaccinated workforce by January 4th or face fines.  Employers not enforcing OSHA’s newest rule could be cited by the agency and face a fine of up to $13,653 for each serious violation. A willful violation, essentially an employer deliberately disregarding the mandate, could lead to a fine as high as $136,532. Congressman LaMalfa has introduced two pieces of legislation to halt vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, the “No Vaccine Passports Act” and the “Keep Vaccines Voluntary Act” which are being stalled by Speaker Pelosi.
Rep. LaMalfa stated, “I oppose this vaccine mandate in every way possible and encourage any employer to join one of the many lawsuits challenging the constitutionality rather than comply.  At some point the only option is civil disobedience. Whether its this new order, or in our home state, Governor Newsom’s ruling that school children must be vaccinated.  The President and OSHA cannot make up laws and penalties from thin air. Last year, nurses, doctors, firefighters, police, the military and everyone who worked through the pandemic were hailed as heroes.  Today, they are the number one target for being fired.  Nurses and doctors especially know the risks they face and their individual risk factors for the vaccine. They battled through the unknown last year when we had no idea about effective treatments. We know much more about the virus today than we did last year and we are all well aware of the risks. Firing those we celebrated last year is especially callous.” 
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

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Assemblywoman Dahle and Plumas Bank assist South Carolina woman with “Greenvilles for Greenville” fundraiser, benefitting Dixie Fire stricken town in Plumas County
GREENVILLE – Cynthia Burns, a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, rallied Greenvilles nationwide to support the Northern California town that burned in the Dixie Fire of the same name. Upon hearing the news about Greenville, California, Burns’ neighbor, also a resident of Greenville, SC, suggested their community do something to help via the popular site NextDoor. Burns took it upon herself to help.
During her research, she discovered that 34 Greenvilles are recognized by the United States Census Bureau. Burns reached out to each one to provide the opportunity for their residents to contribute to the GoFundMe she created. As donations began to come in, Burns reached out to Assemblywoman Megan Dahle’s office for help getting the funds to the community of Greenville, California. Having previously worked with the staff at Plumas Bank, Dahle facilitated a connection between them and Burns to incorporate the funds toward the Dixie Fire Fund – a fund administered by The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada. The Dixie Fire Fund has raised approximately $170,000 so far, including a $50,000 donation by Plumas Bank.
“My team and I recently drove through Greenville to visit the families and children of that community. Seeing them acclimating to their lives in new schools, in new communities was bittersweet. I look forward to seeing Greenville rebuilt and I am thankful for people like Cynthia who have contributed to that future,” said Dahle.
“I think people were just really touched by the story, that a town could just be totally wiped out in no time,” said Burns.
Due to the anonymity of many donors Burns is uncertain how many of the 34 Greenvilles participated, however, those she spoke to about the fundraiser were glad to have a way to help out.
“It’s remarkable that a community more than two thousand miles away felt a sense of connection to the people of Greenville and empathized with the Dixie Fire tragedy,” said Andrew Ryback, President and CEO of Plumas Bank. “I’m inspired by people like Cynthia who are supporting Dixie Fire recovery efforts. Every contribution and act of kindness makes a difference.” Plumas Bank’s branch in Greenville, California was significantly damaged and was one of only five buildings that remained standing after the town was destroyed by the Dixie Fire.
The Dixie Fire began in mid-July, burning nearly 964,000 acres across five counties in Northeastern California. One of California’s largest wildfires in history, the fire destroyed more than 1,300 structures and damaged nearly 100 more. As of Oct. 24, fire officials reported full containment of the Dixie Fire.
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Butte and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties. For more information about Assemblywoman Dahle, visit ad01.asmrc.org/.
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About Plumas Bank
Plumas Bank provides financial services to small and mid-sized businesses throughout the region. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. For more information about Plumas Bank, visit
plumasbank.com.
About The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
Founded in 1980, Plumas Bank is a locally owned, full-service community bank headquartered in Quincy, California. The
bank operates fourteen branches across Northeastern California and Northern Nevada with loan production offices in
California, Nevada and southern Oregon.
The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that has distributed more than $145
million in grants and scholarships from 247 charitable funds. Founded in 1998, the foundation is a community leader,
permanent charitable resource, and a philanthropic advisor in charitable giving. For more information, visit
nevadafund.org. 

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Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Downieville has plenty of Moderna Vaccine on-hand. Call for an appointment 530-289-3298
 
Also, this link will take you to the scheduling calendar for Wednesdays at the Community Hall with Downieville Volunteer Fire Department. Vaccine doses will be limited. Priority will be given to those with an appointment in the system.  If you need help making an appointment call 530-419-5084 8am – 5pm
https://myturn.ca.gov?config=0c22260b-39ca-402a-bae4-22c77d684f07
 
Eastern Plumas Health Care also has vaccine in Loyalton. For an appointment call 530-993-1231
 
In addition, vaccine appointments for all three types of vaccine in many locations, in and near, Sierra County can be found here:
My Turn - California COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling & Notifications or call 530-419-5084 between 8am – 5pm